Overview of the IB Diploma Programme

The IB Diploma

The International Baccalaureate (IB), founded in 1968, is a non-profit educational organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IB is a recognised leader in the field of international education and is currently working with 3,500 schools in 146 countries to develop and offer IB programmes to more than 1,000,000 students aged 3 to 19 years.

The IB Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year programme of international education for students aged 16 to 19 years old. The IB Diploma Programme prepares students for university and life in a global society and encourages them to:

• Ask challenging questions.

• Learn how to learn.

• Develop a strong sense of identity and culture.

• Develop the ability to communicate and understand people from other countries and cultures.

Entry Requirements

Students who have completed an International GCSE or GCSE programmes are required to have achieved a minimum of 3 x B grades and 2 x C grades to be accepted onto the IB Diploma Programme. For most HL courses, students are required to have achieved a B grade at International GCSE or GCSE level. The exceptions are HL Mathematics and HL Physics, both of which require an A grade at International GCSE level Mathematics.

If a student has not studied a particular subject at International GCSE or GCSE level, or under another examination system, it is sometimes possible to start the subject without any prior knowledge at IB Diploma level. Students are advised to consult the appropriate Head of Department or the IB Diploma Coordinator if they are considering a subject they have not studied previously.

Should a student not meet the minimum entry requirements, either for the IB Diploma in general, or for a specific subject, we will look carefully and considerately at a student’s circumstances, attitude and academic record.

The IB Learner Profile

As an IB World School, Dulwich College Seoul aims to develop internationally minded people who, recognising their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

IB Diploma students strive to be:

• Inquirers: Students develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

• Knowledgeable: Students explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

• Thinkers: Students exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognise and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

• Communicators: Students understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

• Principled: Students act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

• Open-minded: Students understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

• Caring: Students show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

• Risk-takers: Students approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

• Balanced: Students understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

• Reflective: Students give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

The IB Diploma Programme Core Subjects

The Core is compulsory and central to the philosophy of the IB Diploma Programme. The Core requirements are:

• The Extended Essay (EE) - This asks students to engage in independent research through an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are studying. The EE has a prescribed limit of 4,000 words and equips students with the independent research and writing skills expected at university.

• Theory of Knowledge (ToK) - The interdisciplinary ToK course develops a coherent approach to learning that unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students explore the nature of knowing and deepen their understanding of knowledge as a human construction.

• Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) - Participation in the school’s CAS programme encourages students to be involved in a range of activities alongside their academic studies throughout the Diploma Programme. Creativity encourages students to engage in the arts and creative thinking. Activity seeks to develop a healthy lifestyle through physical exertion complementing academic work elsewhere in the Diploma Programme. Service within the community offers a vehicle for a new learning with academic value. The three strands of CAS enhance students’ personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning and enable journeys of self-discovery.

Subjects on Offer

The table below indicates the subjects on offer at Dulwich College Seoul. Students must select three Higher Level (HL) and three Standard Level (SL) subjects and must choose one from each group. We encourage students to ensure that the subjects they select are appropriate for university entrance, will maximise their potential, and provide satisfaction and enjoyment.

IB Diploma Group Courses

1 Studies in Language and Literature

2 Language Acquisition

• English Language A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)

• School-Supported Self-Taught (SSST) Language A: Literature (SL)

• Chinese Language A: Language and Literature (HL/SL)

• Chinese Language B (HL/SL)

• Korean Language A: Literature (HL/SL)*

• Mandarin Ab Initio (SL)

• Spanish Ab Initio (SL)

• Spanish Language B (HL/SL)

3 Individuals and Societies (Humanities)

4 Sciences

• Economics (HL/SL)

• Geography (HL/SL)

• History (HL/SL)

• Biology (HL/SL)

• Chemistry (HL/SL)

• Computer Science (HL/SL)

• Environmental Systems and Societies (SL)

• Physics (HL/SL)

5 Mathematics

6 The Arts

• Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL)

• Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (HL/SL)

• Music (HL/SL)

• Theatre (HL/SL)

• Visual Arts (HL/SL)

• Students may also choose: - Another Experimental Sciences or - Another Individuals and Societies subject in this block

* Completion of Korean Language A: Literature (HL/SL) as a Group 2 course - Students will be awarded a bilingual IB Diploma if they achieve level 3 or higher for this course and their Group 1 course.

Note:

• Some courses may not be offered due to insufficient student enrolment.

• It is not always possible to accommodate all course selections due to scheduling conflicts. Every effort will be made to accommodate student preferences but on occasion it may be necessary for students to modify their option choice. This is very much the exception rather than the rule.